Why are Brits so badly dressed?? And what is about bra straps & strappy tops - eeugh!

[NormaSnorks]

Have been in London this morning on trains and people-watching, and have seen virtually NO women I would describe as well-dressed. I don't mean formally smart - just stylish... it's a plethora of unco-ordinated vests & skirts, sloppy old sandals and mishapen dresses.

And what is the thing about those strappy tops with whopping great white bra straps underneath and on show? Is there any decent way to wear one if you're bigger than a 32A ???

We're such slobs...

And OMG - there are SO MANY FAT PEOPLE TOO in highly unsuitable clothing..

np, then what works for us pear-shaped folk? I have stretchy fitted trousers, and yeah, they're nicer than pleated, but for shorts, fitted sounds weird.

Hmm, maybe I must shop.

It is nice - and really cool, I love cheesecloth (reminds me of my childhood). Maybe I'll try a strapless bra (I know I will end up with a squishy monoboob if I do...)

yes you could certainly wear them while boarding your tent. they are made of that material that dries really quickly.
NQC pleats?????? have you gone quite quite mad????
nonononono
no pleats.

you need fitted and meaduim stiff material for shorts NQC.
or - what about a knee length skirt?

hc: chafing. Also, I have fallen out of the habit of skirts, would have to be careful when crouching on floor etc. Not too tempting.

Although, yes, skirts are more flattering, absolutely. (Oh, and also: I own no girl shoes. Only trainers.) And can you bicycle in a short skirt? Safely?

Okay okay, I get it about the pleats. When I bought my favourite pair of shorts (which died), pleats were still socially acceptable. In a few years, someone else will be saying to me "no pleats? are you mad?".

I am doing ok with skorts, but only have two pairs, one of which is ok, the other is scary polyester.

NQC a wide waistband? (i dont mean high)

hipsters?

Ugh, then I get muffin top. I guess if I buy long vests, lots of my shorts are either low, or end up riding low now, as are too big. Grr.

MM look \link[http://www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product_id=EMI-E72-164&mci=&size=36d&colour=green#\HERE} Would this do??

I probably just need to try a range of shorts, I tried one pair of long city shorts in Dotty Ps the other week, trying to work out what size I was, and no matter what, they looked rubbish.

I tried to look for a khaki bra for you on figleaves but almost all in that colour had gone!

M&S have a range of that type of colour - here - but it is padded

ball here

i think skirts are a million times more flattering than shorts too

unless like these

here

crunch i love this but its viscose fgs

yours is norktastic!

I really prefer above-the-knee, ideally mid-thigh. Despite being a heifer. I should probably give longer ones a chance, though.

Ugh, I hate clothes shopping, but will probably have a go soon. (I promised DH I would buy clothes I actually liked, when I figured out what size I was post DS2, but don't know if I've stopped losing weight, so am postponing that ...)

(poisson- i'm with you, it was a warning from my GP that motivated me to lose the wigt. Not nothered aesthetically but health is worth more)

I do the coloured bra thing, but only coz I need the bra to give me enough norks for the dress in the first place, otherwise they just gape.

eh, poisson, see you've mastered Monsoon linkage

thast a good link! i thin i want some
cnat swe tho

Ditto the fishy one

Wow - this has 'kicked off' more than I expected..

I wasn't having a 'go' at fat people per se - I'm a lumpy size 12 myself on a bad pre-menstrual day.

I think Crunchie summed it up best somewhere on this thread - people just don't even seem to buy clothes that fit?

Saw lots of too tight, too short lycra tops with severe muffin tops, loads of white cut-off trews on large bottoms with visible black thongs underneath, and stretchy nylon dresses hanging off vast fat stomach overhangs....

I know it's none of my business, and it's up to people to decide what they wear, but I just think it's so sad that people don't know how to look stylish AND comfortable.

To Thomcat's question - what should people wear - well, I think lots of people have made good suggestions already:

• V necks more flattering for big norks
• a-lines and dresses cut on the bias from less stretchy materials
• sleeveless fitted longer tops in natural fibres over flowing skirts may well be cooler anyway than tight shorts straining at the waistband....

Suew - Re the Strap Traps, you can also achieve the same effect with those tiny gold safety pins you sometimes get with new clothes - just pin them inside the top, and then undo them to put bra strap in, and fasten - hey presto!